STAFF REPORTER
ISLAMABAD Pakistan recorded its third death from the coronavirus, with the nationwide tally at 487 after Punjab reported 16 and G-B reported 9 new cases. Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho Friday morning confirmed the death of a 77 year old COVID-19 patient in the province. The confirmation takes the total number of virus deaths in Pakistan to three. The minister said the patient was a cancer survivor and had diabetes and hypertension when he contracted the virus. She added that the patient did not have any travel or contact history. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar confirmed that Punjab has reported 16 new cases of the coronavirus in the province taking the provincial tally 96. Out of which 71 are Zaireen, 15 in Lahore, 2 in Multan, 3 in Muzafargarh, 3 in Gujrat and 1 each is in Rawalpindi and Jehlum. The CM said that 71 of those cases were found in the pilgrims returning from Iran, 15 from Lahore, two in Multan, three in Muzaffargarh, three in Gujrat and one in Jhelum. First case of coronavirus confirmed in Rawalpindi pproves 900-bed hospital Meanwhile, on Friday a 40- year-old patient of coronavirus surfaced in Rawalpindi. The infected man had returned from Dubai a few days back. He was stopped at the Islamabad airport after appearance of symptoms through thermal scanners. The patient Zaib Noor was shifted to the Benazir Bhutto Hospital where he was tested positive for his test for the coronavirus. Earlier this week, two patients from KP who tested positive for the coronavirus had died, officials said. The patient from Sindh who passed away Friday was the first death from local transmission of the virus. Meanwhile, in the latest measures against the coronavirus outbreak, Chief Minister of Punjab Usman Buzdar approved the construction of a 900- bed field hospital and announced an estimated Rs8 billion in funds. Buzdar approved the hospital to be constructed at Expo Centre Lahore. The funds will be released to the provincial health department and the Pakistan Disaster Management Authority. Buzdar said that a committee has been constituted to aid the Balochistan government, adding that Punjab will help the south-western province in every possible way. Buzdar paid tribute to the doctors fighting against the pandemic, referring to them as national heroes. He made an important announcement saying that the daily-wage workers will continue to get their wages and it will not be suspended. Highlighting further measures under the provincial government, the CM Punjab said that eight hotels in Lahore, with a capacity of total 880 beds, have been identified to assist in the process of quarantine. Buzdar also announced a chief minister emergency fund, asking the affluent to donate as much as they can. The government has issued numbers of helplines people can call in Pakistan for coronavirusrelated inquiries. Below is a list of helplines you can call for any inquiries related to the coronavirus outbreak in Pakistan: Sindh – 021-99204405/ 0316-0111712, Punjab 0800- 99000, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 1700, and Balochistan 1166.
